Visa update

I went to the lawyer dude today, who could maybe help me with my visa situation. Turns out...maybe not.
I know something is going to work out. Maybe that sounds naive of me, but I really think it's going to be OK. I mean it has to work out.
Worst case scenario I have to get a but to India and stay there for like 3 or 4 days. I don't quite know yet.
I am going to the immigration office tomorrow morning with another friend with 'connections' (I put this one in captions because I am not too sure about him...maybe he is just trying to act cool.) I am going to get a multiple entry visa. With this I can leave and come back, and for the amount of time I am gone it will be added to the date of when I can leave.
So...I will give you an update on this situation very shortly...
Until then, I am signing off.

What I miss & What I love

It has been a little while...sorry...I don't really have a great excuse.
I have just been hanging out, going to the gym everyday, and playing the days by ear.
I have been helping out with the music festival, though I am still not quite sure what my direct role is yet...but this festival is with 260 performers, so they can use help. I think mostly I'll be writing, and maybe helping out with logistical things like organizing space and what not.
That radio interview never happened because she just didn't show up. She called the next day to say she was in India...oh Nepal and Nepali people.

There is still so much I love about living here. More than anything I am so glad I have been able to have the opportunity to live here. If I were to come to Nepal for only a couple of weeks, or even a month, I am sure my perspective on life here and the people would be much different. It is just like any where else in the world, there are amazing, beautiful people, and there are disgusting, horrible people.
I am still not a fan of the staring.
It is still hard when you are adapting to the completely different environment and culture, but the environment and people don't adapt to you.
I miss things like reliable electricity...there is supposed to be a schedule, but I don't think it is followed. There is no power for at least 3 hours a day (which does make updating your blog more challenging) and of course it is when you have time or want to go to the Internet cafe. If electricity went out this much in the States, everyone would be living in their bomb shelters...and let's not talk about what the stock market would be doing!
I miss watching the news and reading about what is going on in the world. I feel so out of the loop.
I miss clean air.
I miss my family.
I miss inclusion and non-racist people.
I miss calling whoever, whenever.
I miss fast internet.
I miss going to a coffee shop in Seattle eating a fresh scone and drinking delicious coffee.
I miss the Seattle Children's Theatre.
I miss drinking water from the tap.
I miss ice cubes.
I miss going to parks and reading a book...there are no parks in Kathmandu.
I miss cooking what I want when I want it.
I miss not feeling like I have to be home at a decent hour(even 11/12 is pushing it).

I love my Nepali family.
I love the great people I have met here, and the community I have.
I love the cheaper prices.
I love the Himalayas.
I love the students at school.
I love the food (especially since my stomach has adjusted!).
I love Nepali tea.
I love the festivals.
I love the dress here...totally my style.
I love the neighborhood kids.
I love not wearing makeup.
I love not serving at a restaurant.
I love the amazing people I have met in villages.
I love the rice fields, and the greenest green - in the hills surrounding the valley, and that exists everywhere out of Kathmandu.
I love learning more about Hinduism and Buddhism.
I the music and the dance here.
I love eating on the floor and using my hands.
I learning...and so, even the most unkind and greedy people I have come across here I appreciate, because they have taught me a lot too -
I love that the great people and the shitty people have inspired me to write theatre.
I love that the love of my life is going to be here in 18 days - not that I am counting, of course.

With all this free time now...

It is strange to be done with teaching...I miss the students already - even the too cool ones. At least I get one more time to teach with them before I say goodbye and bawl like a baby.

I have been just chillin, reading, and doing productive things like laundry and going to the gym. Amy and I joined a gym just a tuk tuk ride away. The first day we went it was great, there were only like 4 people there, including ourselves. Then the next time we went there were like 20 men, no women except us, and no white people except us. So that was a little awkward. We are going to go this afternoon to see if it is any better.
Also I joined a bouldering/climbing gym which is awesome. It feels good to be climbing, and I have had the place to myself which is nice. They also have an elliptical type of machine which is really great. I am disciplining myself to go to at least one of the gyms everyday (or both) because if I don't I will die on the trek in one month. I don't want to die yet. Especially on a beautiful hike. TJ is going to be in such amazing shape after doing his course, so I need to be able to keep up.

It is nice developing a routine here though, that is not going to school everyday. Sleep in - and sleeping in here for me is till like 8:30 or 9:00 - have coffee and breakfast while reading a book (right now I am reading The Time Travelers Wife, it is really good!) and then go to a gym(s) or the internet cafe if the electricity is on...and just play the day by ear. I have made a list of places I want to go before TJ gets here. So, that is great and will keep me busy. I think I will be able to do most all of it, but I might save Lumbini for when he's here, because I think we may have time to go there. Lumbini is the place of Buddha's birth. It is supposed to be incredibly beautiful and spiritual.


Tomorrow I have a radio interview through the School of Media in Kathmandu about my experience in Nepal being an American, and also about working at the school and teaching theatre. It should be interesting. I get a copy of the interview, which is cool. I know that I will be asked about the challenges working at the school - and of course the first thing that comes to mind is Mr. Douche Bag, so I am thinking of how I can be honest without ruining the schools reputation, for the students' sake.

Also, I am going to be helping my friend Aria (the one with connections and is helping me with my visa situation) organize the largest music festival in Nepal - which will be taking place when I am gone = bummer!! I'm going to start helping him out tomorrow, doing what exactly? I don't know. But that is the way we roll in Nepal. Never really knowing, and learning to play things by ear.
(I must say my patience has become much more...well, existent.)

The Presentation Day

Oh Boy!

I just had to start with that.

The presentation went pretty well. The students on stage did such a great job and were having so much fun. I am so proud of them. It was the first time they had done a school presentation...98% of them the first time to present anything other than giving some speeches. Which, don't get me wrong, is tough to do, but is also much different than presenting theatre. It was so great to have that moment with all the beautiful studnets I have worked with (most of them...more on this later) and to see their shinning faces and imaginations, and how far they have come in 2 months with using their bodies, imaginations, and voices - and to do it 'on stage'.
As far as them being audience members, they are horrible. And the teachers didn't really help either.
So first thing, I had talked the teachers through how to stay with their class of the 2nd to last period - keep them as a group - and that I wanted them to sit with their class - class 1 on the right through class 7 on the left, and some benches for 8 through 10. Well. It was a disaster. All the kids came running to the courtyard - all 280-or-so of them!!!!!!!!!!! WOAH! They were not together as a class at all, and most of the teachers came strolling behind after them. I was appalled and really stressed out. At this point there was 12 minutes before family and/or friends were to show up.

Chaos at its finest ladies and gentlemen.

So I was doing different techniques to try to get them to sit down, at this point just find a seat, and be quiet. I understand: they were so excited. This was something they have never done before, so they don't know what to expect. Also they have never been taught to be a good audience.
Finally Amy came to my rescue to help, then Dipendra, a science teacher, and Mr. Prem the social studies and Nepali teacher. But 4 adults trying to get 280-or-so students to settle down and focus is still really challenging. I was so shocked that the other 6 or so teachers were just standing there, even after I asked for help. And Mr. Patel. Oh, Douch Bag Patel. He was sitting, no lounging really, on the side of the stage, facing the audience - where he can shine in his illuminous glory - smirking. I actually saw the asshole smirking. Can you believe that? He has no real authority at the school, he is never there and has probably never seen all of 'his' students before, so I understand why he didn't help.
He never does anything so why should he start to help now?!?

So we finally get them settled, but at this point all the students are sitting on the benches, where the family/friends are to sit...so, we had to move them once they were calm...another disaster. It's 3:45 by the time they are where they were to be in the begining. 15 minutes after family/friends were to come in and we were to start. Fffffffffffeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwww! It took about a 1/2 an hour to do it, but we did it.
I told them that if they wanted to present with their class they had to be a good and respectful audience member, or they would have to back to their classroom. I hate making threats like that, but it worked - for about 2 seconds.

I started with class one and just went straight up the class order. (For more information on what they are presenting, please refer to the 'school-eschool' post : ) )
Like I said, they have never been taught to be a good audience. They all passed in the presenting department, but in the audience department all but 3 students would have failed.
Failed hard.
If I were to keep to the original 'threat' I made, there would have been 3 from different classes to perform. So, that went straight through the shitter.
That part was really disappointing, especially since there were only 4 of us doing anything about it.
And the illuminous Mr. Douch Bag did not set a good example. He was talking on his cell phone durning class 9's presentation. Right were he is as clear as day to all of the students, teachers, family and friends. Just ridiculous this man is. I will say that this event absolutly took away any ounce or inkling of reserve I had left for him. I have not passionatly disliked anyone as much as him since Treez-to-the-top. For those of you who have heard about Treez, you know that is a tough act to follow...I think Mr. Douch might actually surpass that disgust and dislike I had for Treez.

I am still very proud of my students. It is just unfortunate that they are not taught, or shown examples of, how to be a respectful audience member. I think maybe some of them learned about it though - by being on stage when the audience is being so loud you know they can not possibly be hearing a thing you are saying. Hopefully they will see that it is important to be quiet and attentive.


So, about my, '(more on this later)'.
I was supposed to meet class 10 during the begining of tiffen (break) time...they all knew about it. I go to their class, and only one sweet student, Manju, is there. I could tell something was wrong.
I go search for the rest of the students (there were only 8 in class- all week their were 7 or 8 students, which is so strange because exams are this coming week) and find them all nearly hiding from me; so I call after them and they come to class.
It was so clear that something was wrong. I just flat out asked, "What is going on?! Do you not want to do this?" One of the too cool kids, Samir, says "No, Miss." I asked, "do you all feel this way?" No anwser. So I said, "I am not forcing you to present, I thought you wanted to do this because you all told me before that you wanted to perform...so if you really don't want to present today [at this point it is 2 hours away] then you can just leave the classroom."
The 3 too cool kids left.
Biswash kept looking at me and them, me and them, and pushed by peer pressure, he left.
I was there with 4 students, one boy and three girls. I couldn't help but feel really hurt that they actually walked out. It's hard when you have come to know these students and they started letting me in, but they still left - not only me, but their peers.
And then I felt bad and some how a tad guilty towards the ones who stayed.
I asked them if they wanted to present, they didn't want to if it was just the 4 of them.
Shitty.
So, I sent them back to class and at this point I am in tears.
To cut the story short, the 4 plus Biswash (yeah-screw peer pressure!!!!) ended up doing a scene with class 9. I am glad that it worked out for them to present something.

Man, being too cool must suck.


That was my exciting and jampacked day yesterday. At least it didn't rain. At least there are 280-or-so minus 3 students who wanted to be there and had a chance to do something very new to them...and they did so well up there.

I decided that I want to teach one more class to each grade - maybe combine 9 and some peeches from 10 - in the end of November when TJ and I are back in Kathmandu before we fly to India.
I just couldn't bear to say good-bye today.

school - eschool

Tomorrow (Thursday) is the day of the theatre presentation, grades 1 through 10. I am so excited, and the students are too.
For class one, we are doing part of a 'story drama' curriculum from the book Pancakes, Pancakes!!! Class 2 is also 'story drama' from Are You My Mother?
Class 3 and I will do parts of our creative drama adventure of finding the Librarian's Magic library books...we will visit the Dream Garden (they grow like trees, where the books were buried...then the pages were empty), the Musician (who made them be in his great band to get the magic pages back, that he had to have for his songs...but he gave them to his boss - the pirate), the Pirate (never fails to have some fun with!), and finally in Space - on the Moon to be precise.
Class 4 will do a movement/sound exercise that they are awesome and hilarious at, and a 7 sentence story.
Class 5 has 2 seven sentence stories...15 in each group (they are a handful!!!).
Class 6 is doing a choral poem, titled Her Head.
Class 7 is acting out a story that I got from this great book of African folktales called The Girl Who Married a Lion. They are amazing! So hilarious, and not afraid to be silly, but are still very focused.
Class 8 wrote me their favorite stories...they are acting out 2 of the stories, and 2silly jokes.
Class 9 will do basic stage combat (I know, it's pretty cool:) ) and 4 scenes from the play I wrote for them.
Class 10 shines when they have fun...for a lot of them saying lines - especially the too cool kids - ended up not being that fun for them...which I fine. So, we are doing Yah!, a great game that is guaranteed to make them smile, and one scene in the play I wrote that is fun for them to do.

I hope that a lot of parents come. We sent them home with some invitations at the end of the day today, so hopefully there will be a decent sized audience.
It has been such an amazing experience and great pleasure to work here and with these students. I wish you all could meet them.
Don't get me wrong, white kids are cute too...but there is something about the children here, and in Mexico, and I am sure I will say this about every country I visit that is not dominantly white...but these kids are too cute, just beautiful.

Except for when they are greedy one's and steel. Today, we discovered that things from the library were stolen. Some notebooks, pencils, prizes for the are competition (there is also an art exhibition tomorrow), books, balls, dinosaurs, cars...a lot of stuff. Such a huge bummer. It is so horrible to think that some of the kids I teach here could be kids who stole something. It sort of baffles me. I wrote about before, how people seem to be fairly greedy here. Even the children. I guess that is all over the world. It's just disappointing, and baffling, because I having drama, art, and a library is new to them...but they take advantage of it and don't see it as a privilege. Not all of the students...there are a lot of students that I can tell genuinely appreciate it all, even having the chance to come to school at all. But, then there are others who I can tell don't have that same respect - to things, education, and with people.

All in all, all is well though. And I can't wait for tomorrow!!!!!!

staying safe

just wanted to say that I am staying safe here. All is well. Things have sort of calmed down, though you can feel the tension in the air.
It has been strange having 3 days off of school and not being able to get out of the city to do some exploring.
Amy, Liz and I were doing a contest - this is kind of gross, so prepare yourselves - to see who could grow the longest armpit hair in 3.5 weeks. Amy won. :)
We finally got to shave yesterday.
So, last night Liz and I took her out to dinner. Pretty hilarious though. We plucked our hairs, some from each arm and took the average length.
HA!!!
This is what we do in Kathmandu...see, we're staying out of trouble. :)
Things have been closing really early here though, like 10pm...so that kind of sucks when you are in the mood to go out.
It is good though. They are doing it to control crime and violence - stopping people from getting too drunk long into the evening is a good way to go about it.
Last night we had a sleepover at Liz and Diebou's and watched Night at the Roxbury.
I love that movie!
Then today we got delicious breakfast, and went to this place called Heed Nepal. It is an organization run by women, and women and children in villages fund their schools by making amazing things from recycled trash.
I love the idea, and their stuff is just great.
I love you all, and again, I am staying safe.

Human Rights. ???

School was cancelled today, due to strikes.

This is fucked up.

In Kathmandu it is illegal to ride a motorbike without a helmet...and to drive anything without a license. At night there are police checkpoints, where the corrupt police will pull over random people and check their licence and papers.
2 nights ago, there was a guy driving a motorbike and was carrying his helmet, not wearing it...and he didn't have his license on him. Two police beat him to death with bamboo sticks. Now, understandingly, there are strikes. Yesterday, and today. Today though everything is shut down and there is almost no one driving on the roads. According to some grade 10 students, there are never any repercussions to police. There is such a different understanding of human rights here, than what I grew up with.

It makes me sick.

Another story, that happened about a month ago.
In Nepal, the way 'insurance' goes for getting in an accident is: if you are responsible for the accident and the person who you injured is still alive you are responsible for paying their medical bills for the rest of that person's life. If that person dies, well you don't have any thing to be responsible for as far as money goes.

So about a month ago (and this is not uncommon) a bus driver hit a man on a motorbike. He went to check if he was still alive...he was. So the bus driver sits back down, and goes to reverse - to kill the man. Once the people on the bus realized what he was doing, they all got up and started beating the shit out of the driver. The driver got away and booked his ass as fast as he could. The people burned his bus down. (GOOD!)
NUTS!!!!!

Now, I know you may be worried for me after reading this...don't be. I am safe. I don't go anywhere near the strikes, and stay as far away from these police as possible. We never get home too late, even when we go out.

I just had to tell these stories, because it really shows how things are here, and how corrupt things are. So full of paradox. Talk about change, talk about growth and wanting to build a stronger nation, talk all you want. But when the under lying system is so corrupt, that is the reason why nothing changes. Why nothing can change.
To have that 'insurance' policy in the first place is just asking for trouble. People here can't afford to take themselves to the doctor, let alone pay for someone else their whole lives. The average family in Nepal lives on 2 US dollars a day. The average family in Nepal has at least 3 children.
Life is hard for the people here, in many ways. I can sense that citizens want change. Nepali's tell me so on a daily basis, especially when they ask where I am from. However, having life based on their systems here, does not help. The government is trying to change. But they have been relying on the help of other countries, and the UN, for so long they don't know how to do it on their own.
Every day I have been here I have learned something huge. This is changing the way I view the world. It is so unfortunate that things are the way they are here, and that there is only talking being done.

I guess it's part of the Nepali way.

I am teaching so much this week. I have a break right now, so I thought I would catch up on my blog. This week I am teaching all together 23 classes - next week 28 - really crazy and soooo tiring. But amazing. It is so great to work with these students and to see them grow and how far they have come from less than 2 months ago. I am really looking forward to having the theatre presentaton, along with an art exhibition, next week. I think it will be interesting to have all the teachers, parents and friends of the students see what they have been doing, and how imaginative they are. In the begining it was so hard for them to trust their ideas and to use their imaginations...every one in every grade has come such a far way - and I have too. Teaching here has really taught me a lot about being flexable and patient with students but more especially with faculty.
Two days ago the teacher leader came to me and told me that there have been complaints about me taking classes. There are exams the week after next and a lot of the teachers STILL have a lot of material to teach. The teachers here are pretty wonderful, but I think they don't really understand how much planning and thought needs to go into a class - for the term, for the week, and for the day. So now they are having their OH SHIT moments and cramming a ton of information. Some of the exams are given by the government, so there is certain material that must be taught. But this whole time I was only having one class a week with all of the classes. Now I am meeting 8,9,and 10 before, during break, or after school (their preferance) so that does not interfere with any class...and there are other teachers who have approached me to see if I could teach with them, since they are either done with the material or they do not have exams for their class (no exams for classes like dictation or physical education). What upset me about being told that I am interfering is that the teachers didn't approach ME; and it is evident that drama is benificial to the studnts in thinking different ways, using their bodies and voices, and in being confident with speaking english. So then I spoke to the individual teacher that I am working with - most particularly the English teachers - and they said it was ok that I still teach with them, and in their class. In fact one person who was said to have complained the most ended up saying that I can have 2 classes a week - instead of 1 - which is awesome, but still frustrating...why complain in the first place?...why send a messenger?...why????? Communication in this school is so indirect. No one wants to hurt other people, and in this culture if something is really bothering you it is not really OK to say what is really on your mind. Its like there are 20 different lines of communication and none of them have a similar meeting point, so everything just gets jumbled up and confusing - and miscommunicated.
It is such a great learning experience to live here and to work here. Really. In so many ways...

On my mind.......

Great news! So...with the visa thing...I decided to try plan D. I was in Thamel where Aria owns a restaurant - Aria is the new Nepali friend who has connections. It never hurts to ask - so I told him about my situation - and turns out everything is going to get worked out just peachy keen and as swell as can be. So, that is amazing. It will only take a phone call from his end, and $6 vs. $100 on my end (and nothing for TJ) which is fabulous. It couldn't be better, as far as this whole stressful situation. YAY! He is a great person to know in Nepal.

I am going on my 2nd to last week of teaching - really nuts.
I need to find ways to keep myself busy or I will just be thinking of October 16th, the day TJ comes to Kathmandu.
Hopefully Amy and myself will be helping on construction on the school once school is out for their month break. They have a break for the festival season. Our hope is to brick the other yard that is now a disgusting swamp area that no one can use...if (and hopefully when) we brick the yard, there will be another area for the 350 students to play in and run around. Another volunteer arrived a couple days ago from Canada, Vincent. He likes to go hiking. That is great, as I can't go hiking by myself here - it's just not safe. So I hope I will do quite a bit of hiking too before my love gets here.

TJ left yesterday for his NOLS course in India. It is so crazy because we are SO much closer as far a latitude and longitude goes, but we won't talk for 6 weeks...until he gets here in 39 days - not that I am counting.
I knew it would be hard to be away from him for 3&1/2 months but I didn't think it would be like this. We have been together for 3 years now, pretty nuts!!!!!!! It is great to have this independent experience, for both of us, for being so young and being together for quite a while. I know I have grown a lot and learned a lot already from my experiences here. I know that the rest of my time abroad, I will continue to learn and grow. Being apart does have it's advantages, as far as being able to explore myself and this world in a different way than I would while traveling with another person. But I am so glad, and feel so lucky to have TJ as a best friend and a boyfriend, and that we get to bring what we have learned and gained independently into our relationship. I know I am being sappy right now, but this is something that has been on my mind a lot.

Like I said though...I need to keep myself occupied...or I will only be thinking of October 16th.

changing the flight

I have decided to change my ticket for November 30th - the day my visa would expire. I am so grateful for my amazing boyfriend who is willing to cough up the dough and change his ticket with me. So sweet.
I went to the airport today, just like they said I could when I called to check, to go to Jet Airways to change my ticket. Well, I get there at 1ish, and there is no one in the office who can help me, says a man sitting at the desk. I am to come back at
4:00, and will be helped then. Sorry for the inconvienence. See you soon.
I go back. Hmmm...turns out they can't help me at that office - I have to go to another one. Oh, annoying. Luckily I live only 15 -20 minutes from the airport, but still it's pretty obnoxious.
Nepali's never want to tell you no...like the guy at 1:00, I wonder if he knew I would have to go to a different office, but didn't want to be the one to break the news. When I went back, at least the people were super friendly - even offered me pastries, a sandwich, and a drink - and appologized profusly. That was nice of them...but still a tiny large bit of annoying.
They said there were over 100 seats available, which is what I was worried about. So, that is good. I just hope that when I make it to the other office, it is the right and final one.
It will all work out just peachy...a little frustrating to deal with, especially because I am not making any money and living on what I saved. But I guess this is a good place to be when you are on a budget.
And, we have a couple more days in India.
Oh, that reminds me - I have to change my hostel. Thinking out loud - or writing out loud - what ever.


I hope you enjoy the pictures. :)

Some Pic's

The picture with Liz and Myself is, well, Liz and Myself.

The one on the stair case is of Amy and all of our neighborhood friends. The kids in the neighborhood are amazing...they are the only one's who do not stare with open mouths - they run to us with open arms. They are so sweet. It is a blast to play with them. Actually, it does help the neighborhood situation quite a bit. The parents see how awesome we are playing with their kids :) and the parents smie at us...
This picture is at Tara and Eve's going away party that we had for them, but mostly for the children in our neighborhood. Some of them go to Pragya, some are just friendly kids on our block. They were so amazing at the party - clapping for every lttle thing: when we took out the juice, when we took out the cups to put the juice in, and when we poured the juice. When we opend the chip bag - clap clap clap - when we opened up cookies - clap clap clap - when we sat down - clap clap clap - when we opened up the cake CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP!!!!!!!!!! They wanted us to sing a song, it is a usual request of them as well as dancing, the only one we thought we all would know was America's National anthem. So we sang the anthem. I must say the Canadian, Tara, was the most enthusiastic singer of us all.

The other shot is taken at my house. That's my living room. Those are my friends. Diebou, Tara, Liz, Amy, Eve, and Didi - the one who looks Nepali. :) Good Times.

Day of the Women's Festival

Sari's are oh so flattering.
This is with Nissa, my families sister/daughter, and Amy.

Woman's Jatra

This week there was no school...there was a women's festival!!!
Monday night we feasted - a common thing to do here - and talked and talked and did henna, or mendi, on our hands. We had to feast, because Tuesday was a fasting day.
It was actually really nice to not eat for almost a full day. I didn't even get hungry. You are not supposed to drink water either, which I had to cheat on. I did pretty well, and then started to get dizzy and caved. Every woman wore red sari's - even yours truly - and went to the temples and danced, sang, danced and danced. It was hot as Hell on Tuesday, so that, dancing and dehydration were an intense combo. When the sun set we could drink water, and ate fruits. We had this interesting and acquired tasting concoction of hot water, butter, sugar, and black peppercorns to drink after eating. Yuck! It is supposed to be good for your stomach after a day of fasting...I don't know...I was trying to hide that I was gaging.
Needless to say, I slept like a little baby that night.
Wednesday, and Thursday (today) are still celebration days of ritual, worship, feasting, and rest.
The festival is to wish women for good husbands and/or a happy life and healthy relationship with your husband or future husband.

I just think it is soo awesome that there is a festival to celebrate women...especially in this culture. It does revolve around the idea of having a good husband, which kind of sucks (haha), but it is still so amazing to see women get together and unite. For only women to be allowed to dance and celebrate. I hope that in such a confining culture for women (though it is getting better)this is a free feeling and expressive time for women to have the chance to celebrate.